WEBVTT IT'S BEEN SAID THATFRIENDS ARE THEFAMILY YOU CHOOSE.MIKE BUSH SHARES ALESSON IN FRIENDSHIPFROM TWO FIRSTGRADERS IN SAINTLOUIS THAT WILL WARMYOUR HEART.AT CENTRALELEMENTARY IN UNION,MISSOURI THE BESTTEACHERS MAY JUSTBE TWO STUDENTS.FIRST GRADERSVINCENT BUTTERFIELDAND ZAC GOSSAGE AREVERY GOOD FRIENDSAND OFTEN VERY SILLY.WHY DOES THECHICKEN CROSS THEPLAYGROUND? WHY?TO GET TO THE OTHERSLIDE! BUT RECENTLYTHERE WASN'T A LOTTO LAUGH ABOUT. LASTJUNE, AFTER FEELINGILL AND TIRED FORWEEKS, ZAC WASDIAGNOSED WITHACUTE LYMPHOBLASTICLEUKEMIA, A FAST-GROWING CANCER OFTHE WHITE BLOODCELLS. AS A PARENT,YOU WANT TO MAKESURE NOTHING BADEVER HAPPENS TOYOUR CHILD AND WHENSOMETHING DOES YOUWANT TO BE ABLE TOFIX IT. AND I COULDN'T.STILL, WHILEEVERYBODY AROUNDHIM TOOK IT HARD, ZACTOOK IN STRIDE.DESPITE FREQUENTTRIPS TO THEHOSPITAL, HE ALMOSTNEVER MISSED A DAYOF SCHOOL. BECAUSE IGET TO PLAY WITHVINCENT OUTSIDE ATRECESS. AS FORVINCENT, HE STARTEDASKING QUESTIONSAND LEARNING ABOUTCANCER. IT'S WHENYOU'RE WHITE BLOODCELLS AND YOUR REDBLOOD CELLS FIGHT.THEN HE LEARNEDTHAT ZAC'STREATMENTS WEREEXPENSIVE. WE HADBEEN MAKING THESESCARVES AND HE JUSTKIND OF SAID IT WOULDBE COOL IF WE COULDMAKE A WHOLE BUNCHOF THESE AND SELLTHEM. HE SOLD MORETHAN 20, EARNING ACOUPLE OF HUNDREDDOLLARS. REPORTER:YOU RAISED $200?THAT'S A LOT OFMONEY. AND WHO DIDYOU GIVE IT TO?VINCENT: ZAC. VINCENTALSO FOUND OUT THATZAC MIGHT LOSE HISHAIR BECAUSE OF THECHEMOTHERAPYTREATMENTS. SO ONEDAY, HE SHOWED UP TOMRS. KOESTER'S FIRSTGRADE CLASSWEARING A STOCKINGCAP. AND HE SAID,'MRS. KOESTER I HAVEA SURPRISE FOR ZAC.'AND I SAID, 'WELL, YOUDO, YES I DO.' AND HEPULLS OFF HISSTOCKING CAP ANDHERE I SEE THAT HESHAVED HIS HEAD.VINCENT: I CUT IT OFFREPORTER: YOU CUTOFF YOUR HAIR? HOWCOME? VINCENT: TOMAKE ZAC FEEL LIKEHE'S NOT THE ONLYONE WITHOUT ANYHAIR. ZAC CONTINUESTO GET TREATMENTSAND CONTINUES TOCOME TO SCHOOLEVERY DAY. HE COMESIN AND YOU SAY 'HOWARE YOU?' AND HESAYS 'FINE.' ANDVINCENT? WELL HE MAYBE YOUNG, BUT HE'STEACHING US THEOLDEST LESSONS.REPORTER: WHAT ISFRIENDSHIP? WHAT ISFRIENDSHIP? ABEAUTIFUL THING.INDEED IT IS. CLEARLY,WISDOM DOESN'TALWAYS COME WITHAGE.